Side effects of influenza vaccines kill seven in two years
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20030205a4.htm
The side effects of influenza vaccines killed seven people in the two
years through last March, and more than 80 people suffer from the adverse
effects of such shots each year, the health ministry said Tuesday.
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which gave the data to the Diet at the
request of a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, said the number of reported
side effects totaled 82 cases in fiscal 2000, rising to 87 the following year.
The symptoms include fever, vomiting and shock. Most have recovered, but 21
people who took the vaccines are still suffering side effects.
The seven people who died after being injected with flu vaccines were all older
than 60, the ministry said. The causes of death included acute hepatitis and
acute pneumonia.
In fiscal 2001, according to health ministry data, 10 million flu shots were
shipped and 6.4 million people aged over 60 were vaccinated.
Influenza vaccines are extracted from virus cultures implanted in chicken eggs.
Unlike polio and other preventive vaccines, influenza vaccines do not give total
immunity to recipients. However, they are effective in reducing the chances of
contracting the illness as well as preventing serious complications, including
pneumonia.
The Japan Times: Feb. 5, 2003